On the high platform, even the elders stiffened in shock.
They knew better than anyone how terrifying Arcane Ice soul art was. Facing it head-on was already dangerous enough—yet Ryan was attempting to deflect it with two fingers?
To them, this was not confidence.
It was madness.
An Upper Elite or not, challenging the strongest Li Clan martial art in this way was no different from stepping willingly into death.
And yet—
Ryan's expression remained calm.
As if what stood before him was not the pride of the Li Clan… but merely another obstacle to be brushed aside.
However, in the very next moment, shock seized everyone's hearts.
Li Mingtian's punch surged forward, fierce and unstoppable, yet Ryan's two fingers showed no flourish at all.
They flicked lightly, almost casually, as if brushing away dust. Before Li Mingtian's fist could reach him, a razor-sharp surge of energy burst forth from Ryan's fingertips.
That invisible force struck first.
It slammed into the half-moon-shaped wave of qi clinging to Li Mingtian's fist, and a violent howl echoed through the air.
The turbulent qi seemed to recoil in fear, retreating under the pressure.
In an instant, the wave was pierced clean through, and the remaining force crashed straight into the white radiance enveloping Li Mingtian's fist.
Cracks appeared.
They spread like a spiderweb across glass, rapid and merciless.
The shockwave around the fist fractured, the white light splintered, and with a sharp explosive sound, everything shattered and dissipated into nothingness.
The Sky rank martial art, the one Li Clan elders were so proud of, was broken.
Li Mingtian's eyes flew wide, disbelief flooding his face. He had no time to understand what had happened before the remaining force struck him head-on.
The impact was brutal.
It felt as if a colossal hammer had smashed into his fist.
Pain exploded outward, tearing through his arm and surging into his chest, rattling his organs and making his vision blur.
His fist was blasted backward, his body unable to withstand the force as he was hurled through the air.
This time, it was far worse than before.
Li Mingtian flew more than ten meters, crossing the boundary of the ring before crashing heavily to the ground.
The moment he landed, his head snapped to the side, and a mouthful of blood sprayed out. His body twitched once, then his eyes rolled back, and he lost consciousness.
The entire martial arena fell deathly silent.
No one had expected this ending.
Ryan had shattered a Sky rank martial art with nothing but two fingers, then sent Li Mingtian flying off the ring, seriously injured and unconscious. The so-called first genius of the Li Clan could not even withstand a flick of Ryan's hand.
The shock was suffocating.
For a long while, no one spoke. The Yanwu arena was so quiet that even the sound of breathing seemed loud. Only after several breaths did a wave of gasps and murmurs finally erupt from below the ring.
"How… how can Li Wei be this strong?"
"This is terrifying. From a notorious waste to such a monstrous genius… It's unbelievable."
"Fortunately, I never offended him. Who would dare provoke someone like this?"
"Li Mingtian couldn't even block a single flick. Who else in the Li Clan can stand against Young Master now?"
"A new number one has been born."
"If this continues, Young Master might truly lead the Li Clan to unprecedented heights."
Discussion exploded like wildfire. The duel itself had been astonishingly short, almost anticlimactic, save for one moment of brilliance when Li Mingtian displayed the Li Clan's strongest martial art, Arcane Ice soul art. Yet even that had been crushed without suspense.
The ones who were earlier calling Ryan by all names suddenly began to address him as Young Master, even while murmuring among themselves.
Two exchanges. That's all it took for Ryan to gain the respect of others.
The first time, Li Mingtian used half of his strength and was flicked away.
The second time, he used his full power and the strongest martial art of the clan, only to be blasted off the ring and knocked unconscious.
It was absolute domination, without the slightest doubt.
On the high platform, the elders stared at Ryan as if seeing him for the first time.
"This strength… it surpasses ours. I can't see through him at all."
"Same here. Truly, the younger generation surpasses the old."
"What was that force he released just now? Pure energy? What realm has he reached?"
"It's a blessing for the clan to have such a son. The Li Clan's future is assured."
"Congratulations!"
"Congratulations to the patriarch!"
One by one, the elders gathered around Li Gengxin to congratulate him. At this moment, anyone could tell that Ryan's rise was unstoppable, and the Li Clan's future would inevitably revolve around him.
Li Gengxin accepted their words with modest composure, though joy shone clearly in his eyes.
He had long known his son had encountered a heaven-sent opportunity, but even he had not anticipated such overwhelming strength. Not even the Li Clan's ancestral Sky rank martial art could shake Ryan.
How far had his son truly gone?
A cold snort broke the harmony.
The Seventh Elder's face was ashen, his expression twisted and ugly. Ryan's victory meant the complete collapse of his hopes. Beneath his fury, a darker, more vicious resolve began to surface as his hands clenched tightly.
Ryan, exhausted from days of continuous combat, had no intention of lingering. With the duel decided, he turned to leave the ring, intending to return and rest.
And at that very moment, a violent tearing sound ripped through the air, followed by a furious roar.
"Li Wei, return my grandson's life!"
The Seventh Elder had moved.
Taking advantage of Ryan's turn back and the elders' distraction, he leapt down from the platform with his punch surging forward with full force. It was a sneak attack, fast and ruthless, backed by the strength of a two-star Upper Elite. If it landed, Ryan would be dead on the spot.
Or so Li Feiying believed.
For an instant, no one reacted.
The crowd was still immersed in shock, the elders were mid-congratulation, and Li Gengxin had yet to turn his head. The Seventh Elder's strike was already upon Ryan.
But Ryan was not just some Upper Elite realm; he had already stepped into the realm of Exalt.
How could the senses of such a realm be dulled to the point of being struck from behind?
Though his back was turned, his perception had already locked onto the killing intent the moment it flared. The instant the Seventh Elder moved, Ryan felt it.
And then—
He moved.
When the Seventh Elder leapt from the platform, Ryan had already sensed him.
The instant murderous intent flared behind him, Ryan's perception was already locked on.
He simply chose not to move, as if unaware, until the Seventh Elder's fist was about to strike. Only then did Ryan spin around sharply, his expression cold and calm, stretching his hand forward.
"Heavenly Star Palm!"
Ryan's palm shot forward.
The Seventh Elder's eyes widened in shock. He never imagined his sneak attack would be exposed so easily, nor did he expect Ryan's counterattack to arrive this fast. There was no time to withdraw or defend. His fist collided head-on with Ryan's palm.
The outcome was decided the moment they touched.
A 3-star Exalt using a palm technique against a mere 2-star Upper Elite was absolute suppression. The Seventh Elder was already inferior in strength, and his failed sneak attack left him completely unprepared.
A deafening boom echoed.
The Seventh Elder was blasted away the instant he made contact.
In midair, his pupils dilated as blood sprayed violently from his mouth.
His body flew more than ten meters, streaking the air with crimson droplets, before crashing heavily to the ground.
Several Li Clan disciples nearby failed to dodge in time and were splashed with blood, their faces pale with shock.
The Seventh Elder rolled once on the ground, his eyes turning white. His body twitched, then fell completely still.
At the same moment, a system notification sounded in Ryan's mind.
"Ding! Congratulations to the player Ryan for killing Li Feiying, gaining 100,000 experience points. God of War value gained: 0."
Dead.